Xeniya Balabayeva is World Junior Girls Rapid Champion

Xeniya Balabayeva (Kazakhstan) is the winner of the girls section of the World Junior Rapid Championship. Xeniya Balabayeva collected 7,5/9 points, half a point ahead of competition. The silver medal is for Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan), bronze is for Varvara Poliakova (FID). Replay all games here

This is a second fast-paced chess world title for Xeniya Balabayeva, after she won the World Junior Blitz Chess Championship is 2023.

NEW WORLD CHAMPION! 🥳
Congrats to WGM Xeniya Balabayeva on winning the World Junior Rapid Championship outright! 🇰🇿

She must have flown 29+ hours all the way from Kazakhstan to Peru just to play! 🤯https://t.co/ab0oyY1ULX
📷: Patricia Claros Aguilar#chess #womeninchess pic.twitter.com/DLcE3RDZSn

— Women's Chess Coverage (@OnTheQueenside) September 26, 2025

Final standings

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.
1	WGM	Balabayeva, Xeniya	KAZ	2287	7
2	WIM	Khamdamova, Afruza	UZB	2384	6.5
3	WFM	Poliakova, Varvara	FID	2065	6.5
4	WFM	Zhurova, Anna	FID	2189	6.5
5	WIM	Omonova, Umida	UZB	2265	6
6	FM	Contreras Huaman, Fiorella	PER	2152	6
7	WIM	Kairbekova, Amina	KAZ	2259	6
8	IM	Roebers, Eline	NED	2409	6
9	WFM	Tarasenka, Aliaksandra	BLR	2126	5.5
10	WIM	Jimenez Salas, Maria Teresa	PER	1984	5.5
11	WCM	Khalilova, Madinabonu	UZB	1885	5
12	WGM	Kurmangaliyeva, Liya	KAZ	2150	5
13	WIM	Bravo Mallco, Kate Azumi	PER	1924	5
14	WFM	Dorokhina, Elizaveta	FID	2090	5
15	WFM	Donate Moreno, Silvia	ESP	2078	5
16		Sanchez Cruz, Mireya Jassly	PER	1723	5
17		Morales Perez, Ghisell	COL	1977	4.5
18	WCM	Maravi Ceron, Ayme	PER	1736	4.5
19	WCM	Herrada, Blanco Maria Fernanda	PER	1926	4.5
20		Paredes Minaya, Alyssa Christina Lucia	PER	1660	4.5
21	WCM	Huayhuas Robles, Laura Sofia	PER	1838	4.5
22		Puma Lezama, Angela Fernanda	PER	1577	4.5
23		Acuna Alarcon, Claudia Micaela	PER	1844	4
24	WFM	Mollo Figueroa, Nicole	BOL	1881	4
25	WCM	Esteban Castro, Esther Raquel	PER	1732	4
26		Salazar Gould, Kristy Valeria	CRC	1696	4
27		Pichilingue Orbe, Camila Belen	PER	1535	4
28		Chuchukova, Stefani	BUL	1893	3.5
29		Rojas Salas, Rihanna Irina	PER	1693	3.5
30	WCM	Vizcarra Quispe, Ramalia Bellaluz	PER	1727	3.5
31		Jimenez Salas, Fabiana	PER	1735	3.5
32		Jauregui Casas, Lhuanna Khalezzy	PER	1416	3.5
33		Cielo, Lesley	ARU	1543	2.5
34		Wochiny Reyes, Zohane Valquiria	PER	1451	1.5
35		Rojas Raraz, Jarely Katty	PER	1454	1.5
36		Cusi Sarasi, Daianna Anthuane	PER	1501	1.5
37		Bermeo Apolinario, Jaziel Charlize	ECU	1656	0
38		Garcia Barrantes, Yareli Antonella	PER	1448	0
39		Urpeque Guzman, Zayaka Isabel	PER	1447	0